Why Some Clothes Stay in Your Closet – And What You Can Do About It, Part 2

If you’ve ever wondered why you repeatedly wear only a small percentage of the clothes which you actually own, the explanation is simple: it boils down to habit. We discussed how habit affects our “functional wardrobe” in Part 1. Now that you hopefully understand why you (in all probability) initially chose the pieces you’ve made it a habit to wear, we’re going to take the extra step to set up new pieces to start earning their place, taking up prime real estate in your closet. It starts with some intentionality, planning ahead before the moment when you open your closet doors and ask yourself the question, “What should I wear today?”

Get Your Closet Organized

David Yurman 18k gold ring with Rose Quartz & Pink Sapphire

You won’t choose pieces you can’t see or don’t have easily accessible. You just won’t. In our fast-paced modern lives, what’s easy and takes less time is typically what we choose. So if you have something hanging at the back of your closet or crowded by myriad other pieces, it makes sense that you overlook it every day. If it requires mending or ironing, you’re going to pass over it as well. And if you’re not sure it fits properly or matches anything else — or you’re not quite sure which accessories will coordinate with it — you’ll probably keep shoving it back into the recesses of your wardrobe. So you need to get organized. And that takes time.

Make Plans To Coordinate Pieces

Valentino snow boots

Get out your calendar and choose an evening or some other time frame when you won’t be rushed. Take the time to try on any pieces you don’t regularly wear but would like to, and make sure they fit and are in ready-to-wear condition. If they’re not, decide whether they need to be purged or they’re worth a little TLC. (See this post about the importance of purging.) Once you have a selection of long-forgotten pieces that fit and are ready to be worn, experiment with pairing them with various complementary pieces and accessories until you have a winning combination. Then put them at the front of your closet, along with the entire ensemble.

Schedule a New Outfit Debut

Louis Vuitton Speedy 30 Handbag

Now get out your calendar again, and plan to wear the newly rediscovered outfit for a specific day or occasion. One added trick is to wear your “new” outfit to a bound-to-be-positive occasion. The ensemble will then become mentally associated with something positive, triggering dopamine (the pleasure chemical in your brain) and thus increasing your chance of making it into your regular wardrobe routine.

If you find yourself in need of added pieces to coordinate with your existing clothes to create full ensembles or simply want to add a few new pieces into your rotation, consider that buyers’ remorse typically comes when people purchase less-than-perfect or low-quality pieces they don’t end up wanting to wear. Splurging on high-quality pieces is rarely regretted. You can find the perfect combination of high-fashion and bargains at The Penny Pincher Boutique.

Penny Pincher Boutique in Bedford Hills, NY

Penny Pincher Boutique

We’re Westchester’s luxury consignment shop offering women’s designer clothing, jewelry, shoes, handbags and much more. Visit our shop at 184 Harris Road in Bedford Hills, New York or visit us online at www.pennypincherboutique.com. You can also find a selection of our items on sale on eBay. We ship throughout the United States.